A Statistical Investigation of Internal Wave Propagation in the Northern South China Sea
Abstract
The long-term goal of this project is to predict the generation of internal waves over the ridges in the Luzon Strait and wave propagation across the northern South China Sea. The objective of this study is to provide a description of internal wave/tide propagation from the Luzon Strait to the edge of the continental shelf off China. Three issues are to be studied: 1) the relationship between the internal waves and the barotropic tides in the Luzon Strait, 2) temporal and spatial variations of internal wave properties during propagation across the deep basin of the northern South China Sea, and 3) wave transmission over the continental margin. Guided by the characteristics of internal waves inferred from nonhydrostatic numerical simulation, time series analysis will be performed on simulated real-time data obtained from the Ocean Nowcast/Forecast System of Naval Research Laboratory during NLIWI. In the propagation region, wave fronts will be identified using depth integrated energy flux and the baroclinic velocity. The propagation speed of internal waves will be calculated. Trajectories of individual wave fronts will then be traced back to the Luzon Strait to pinpoint the location of wave generation and its dependence on the barotropic tides.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA590339
Entities
People
- Ping-tung Shaw
Organizations
- North Carolina State University